ADSTAR 2024 call for submissions now open

Australia’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) is calling for abstract submissions exploring disruptive technologies that would contribute to the defence of Australia by giving the country an asymmetric edge over a better-resourced, larger enemy.

Entries close on 3 June.

DSTG says it wants to hear from universities, research institutions and research and development departments from business and industry in diverse disciplines including cyber security, computer science, robotics, engineering, communications and networking, and the physical sciences.

DSTG technical committees will review and select from the submissions to develop the speaker program for the ADSTAR 2024 conference which will be held from 17 to 19 September at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.

ADSTAR is the primary knowledge-sharing forum for the nation’s top minds in dual-use innovation, disruptive technology and asymmetric defence capabilities to gather with their international counterparts and industry peers, says DSTG.

The organisation is exploring the art of the possible in research and innovation: emerging technologies with the potential to deliver an asymmetric advantage – to circumvent an opponent’s strengths and deliver an element of surprise that is difficult to counter via conventional means.

The theme of ADSTAR 2024 is Accelerating development of asymmetric capabilities for Defence. The summit will be held against a backdrop of economic uncertainty and regional instability, in which the nature of warfare has changed and Defence priorities are changing with it.

The technical review committees welcome submissions on disruptive technologies across a spectrum of capability readiness from concept development to mature demonstrations of prototypes, particularly as they relate to six key fields: trusted autonomy, quantum, information warfare, long-range fires, hypersonics, and directed energy.

Chief Defence Scientist, Professor Tanya Monro, acknowledges Defence’s history of harnessing Australian science and research to build new capabilities.

“But there is now a demand to innovate at greater pace, to address to the rapidly changing environment and lack of warning time. A new approach is required, one that embraces risk and demands great courage,” she said.

The submissions portal is open until 3 June 2024.